Well, folks it’s Friday and the news dump has started early. This morning Press Secretary Sean “Spicey” Spicer resigned his position in a pique over the appointment of former transition team official and Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci as the new communication director. The office has been empty since the resignation of Mike Dubke in May after just three months in the position. Sarah “Huckleberry” Sanders takes over for Spicey as press secretary.
Trump said in the statement that his administration has “accomplished so much and…given credit for so little.” The “people get it even if the media doesn’t,” Trump said.
Scaramucci, who took the podium in the White House briefing room for the first time, thanked Spicer for deciding to leave so that Scaramucci could start his job with a clean slate and said he hopes that he goes on to “make a lot of money.”
One source with direct knowledge of the situation told NBC News that Spicer informed people last night he would resign if Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier, were hired.
According to the source, Spicer had doubts about Scaramucci’s ability to do the job. Another source said Spicer didn’t present an ultimatum, but that he was not happy about the president’s decision.
During Trump’s bid for office, Scaramucci helped with fundraising and often appeared on cable TV to defend the candidate. Scaramucci first supported Scott Walker and then Jeb Bush.
Trump’s legal team also took a hit:
President Donald Trump is reshuffling his legal team as special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation moves full steam ahead.
The developments come one day after Trump suggested an aggressive pushback against his investigators, telling The New York Times that Mueller’s office had widespread conflicts of interest while warning investigators any examinations of his family’s finances would be improper. Sources told CNN, however, that these moves were well in the works before the Times interview took place.
Marc Kasowitz, Trump’s longtime personal attorney who has been the lead lawyer on the Russia investigation, will see his role recede, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
A third source said Kasowitz’s role is changing because the needs are more Washington-centric and Kasowitz has done his primary job of putting the team together
Instead, attorney John Dowd, along with Jay Sekulow, will now be the President’s primary personal attorneys for the investigation, according to the two sources with knowledge of the situation. Dowd will take the lead.
Attorney Ty Cobb will take the lead from inside the White House on the Russia investigation when he formally starts his job on July 31.
As CNN reported earlier this month, Cobb will help manage this crisis from a legal and communications perspective.
One source with knowledge disputed reports Thursday night in The New York Times and The Washington Post that the legal team is seeking to undermine the Mueller investigation and stressed the intention is to cooperate fully.
Meanwhile, Mark Corallo has resigned from his position as spokesman and communications strategist for Trump’s legal team.
Corallo told CNN Friday morning, “I resigned yesterday” and declined to comment further about his departure.
His resignation comes after weeks of simmering tension between the White House and the President’s legal team.